Council Panel Hits The Cha

June 04, 1986|By James Strong.

After four months of hearings, a Chicago City Council subcommittee Tuesday approved a resolution urging the Chicago Housing Authority to impose a moratorium on buying more housing sites until existing properties are repaired or rehabilitated.

Ald. William J.P. Banks (36th), subcommittee chairman, said the action was prompted by repeated charges that the CHA has failed to meet its obligations in rehabilitating dilapidated buildings. As a result, the houses and apartments have become community eyesores and have affected property values in the surrounding areas, Banks said.

The measure, not binding on the CHA, was approved by a voice vote. Ald. Ed Smith (28th), the only alderman aligned with the Washington administration attending the meeting, abstained.

Zirl Smith, CHA executive director, disclosed that the CHA is preparing to acquire 200 more sites as required by a federal court and told the committee, ``As long as the courts tell me to buy I am going to continue to buy sites.``

Smith said the CHA is limited by court orders on which neighborhoods are eligible for housing site selections, but said that the CHA is moving as rapidly as possible to improve housing already in its possession.

Ald. Miguel Santiago (31st) complained to Smith of abandoned and dilapidated buildings owned by the CHA in his Northwest Side ward, saying,

``If there is going to be scattered site housing, scatter it all around the city. We are willing to take our fair share but the ones in my community have become eyesores, nests for criminals.

``Either fix them up or demolish them,`` Santiago told Smith. ``Either you rehabilitate those abandoned buildings in my community or I`ll go to court to have them demolished.``

Smith told the subcommittee that he could not render an opinion on the recommendations for a moratorium on purchases. He said CHA policy is set by the board.